80 percent of adults in the United States will experience lower back pain during their lives. Lower back pain is a leading cause of missed workdays, and the most common cause of job-related disability.
15 to 30 percent of the time the SI joint is the cause of chronic lower back pain, but sometimes may be overlooked as the source of your pain, since it can radiate down your leg and even present itself as pain in your foot.
What causes SI joint pain and symptoms? Spaces between the bones of the SI joints are filled with fluid, which provides lubrication. These spaces are also filled with free nerve endings, which send pain signals to the brain and into your legs. When the bones in the SI joint become out of alignment, it can be painful.
How can sacroiliac (SI) joint symptoms be misleading? You may experience SI joint pain as a sharp, stabbing pain that radiates from your hips and pelvis, up to the lower back, and down to the thighs. Sometimes it may feel numb or tingly, or as if your legs are about to buckle. Because of the different ways the SI joint problem can show up, it can be difficult to understand where the pain is coming from. Be sure to get assessed by a provider that focuses on the structure of the skeletal system.
What can you do about it? There are several options in addressing your SI joint complaints, everything from drugs and injections to surgery. It’s recommended that you use the most conservative rout to correct your back pain first.
Chiropractic care has been shown to be one of the most effective and least invasive therapies for low back pain. Multiple studies show chiropractic as the best option for chronic low back and SI joint pain. Contact us today to make sure your SI joints aren’t limiting your lifestyle.
